Lee Anne P. is a VSP Wellness Coordinator.
VSP has been following the Health Care Reform debate and is making sure vision is a part of that conversation. Today, Rob Lynch, VSP’s CEO, was on Fox Business to state our position. Watch Rob and let us know what you think.
What’s going to happen to vsp with obama’s healthcare bill? I hope vsp will disappear and a plan that’s more supportive of eye doctors take over.
I am just curious about the person who commented that implied that they are a provider…. if vsp pays so miserably then why do you contract with them? I was told you go through some kind of approval process application before vsp accepts a doctor into their network. Why would you seek out to be contracted with an insurance company you are unhappy about? Why would you choose to stay with them if you are unhappy with how much money they are paying you? I don’t wanna go to a unhappy eye doctor’s office just because they see who my insurance is because I might have vsp. I was told the eye doctor’s choose to take that insurance. I dont understand the logic of maintaining relationships that we claim are not to our benefit.
Provider fees are miserable. I get paid $31.50 for a full examination and refraction from VSP. That’s about 22% of my fee. Let’s be honest here, Liz. VSP is trying to bundle more care under the same price tag to benefit their pockets at the expense of all eye care providers. The client pays for extra programs (diabetic, etc) to be included with their vision examination that are already covered by your medical insurance. They are also creating a contact lens formulary with their Contact Lens Program that limits the providers’ choices in determining which contact lenses are optimal for each patient on an individual basis. We need insurance reform just as much as health care reform.
Hi Phil & Jody,
Thanks for your comments.
Medical eyecare services have been available to VSP members for over 18 years (since 1991). The VSP Primary EyeCare Plan covers diagnosis and tests for vision loss, treatment for conditions such as pink eye, and management of glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. The VSP Expanded Primary EyeCare Plan takes that coverage a step further, including additional medical eyecare services that are specific to a state’s optometry scope of licensure. Both plans are available to any VSP client with a core VSP vision plan.
In addition, VSP introduced its Diabetic Eyecare Program in January 2009, with medical eyecare for Type 1 diabetic members at no charge to all eligible VSP Signature Plan clients. And VSP’s long-term objective is to offer a product that would provide additional medical eyecare services for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics, aligning with their commitment to deliver the highest possible level of eyecare.
We appreciate your opinons, and I would like to point out that VSP is the only managed vision care company at the table in Washington voicing concern that vision plans have not been included in the definition of a qualified health plan.
VSP provider fees continue to be the best in the industry. The new product and pricing changes will help VSP retain and win contracts so we can continue sending VSP members to VSP doctors and encouraging patients to make their eyewear purchases from their offices.
Liz B.
VSP Blog Administrator
noticed you deleted a prior negative comment made yesterday…. I guess you allow only positive comments and brush everything else under the rug so your VSP members are none-the-wiser… smart smart smart!!!
VSP is an absolute shame of an “insurance” company. There is nothing about VSP that is like an insurance company. they take your money all year long and then pay the docs that take care of us very little and they themselves buy expensive cars, pay huge bonuses, take lavish vacations….. god forbid if you have glaucoma or diabetic eye disease, they’ll cut your doctor off and leave him asking his patients to pay out of pocket for his services because VSP pays for your vision exam only, not a comprehensive medical evaluation with any needed diagnostic evaluations of your eye. Cancelled my VSP long ago once I found out the scam they’re running…
also, this rob lynch is full of it…. I hope that Obama’s plan is NOWHERE near what VSP is…OMG.
yea, VSP covers ZERO additional testing for eye disease….they cover exam ONLY. any additional testing will have to be covered by your health insurance and you’ll have to pay out of pocket if you have no health insurance. basically, if you are perfectly healthy, VSP is good….. if you aren’t healthy, VSP’s lack of coverage will cost you a fortune!!!!
VSP’s reimbursement to doctors is pitiful….and the prices of glasses are jacked up so high to account for the discounts that VSP requires docs to give.
All in all, VSP is completely useless….
The video does seem to be a little misleading in some regards. VSP as a charitable non-profit is very misleading.
VSP’s non-profit status is mentioned several times in the video, but didn’t the IRS revoke VSP’s non-profit status? Largely because VSP functions more as a for profit company with large executive salaries, bonuses derived from net earnings, luxury company cars and large cash flow surpluses.
The IRS revoked VSP’s 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status effective Jan. 1, 2003, on the grounds that it operates primarily for the benefit of subscribers rather than the community as a whole.
The company fought to get it back despite losses at the U.S. District Court in Sacramento in 2005 and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals a year ago. Whitewater special prosecutor Kenneth Starr was hired in July to head the company’s legal team as it prepared an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The case showed up on a list of 425 denied a hearing before the high court during the current session. That means lower court rulings against VSP stand
This is also available on youtube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaPDwVpxZWA
Great job VSP.
Thank you for your comment. VSP has been a tax paying not-for-profit since having our tax-exempt status revoked January 1, 2003.
We have and will continue to offer substantial community benefits, consistent with 501(c)4 status, promoting the common good, general welfare and social improvements. Through our Sight for Students and Mobile Clinics charitable programs we have provided more than $100 million in access eyecare and eyewear for underserved communities through our network of doctors. And in partnership with state and national programs we have provided additional access eyecare services for under insured Americans.
We believe this business model and community relationship building champion access for everyone to eyecare and we hope to work with Congress to further that goal.
Hi Jody,
There have not been any comments previously posted to this post that have been deleted.
Thank you!
Liz
VSP Blog Administrator